CITY ROOM BLOGGING AT NYTIMES.COM/CITYROOM.

By COREY KILGANNON

Published: December 9, 2009

WATCHING OVER

Strawberry Fields

''I'm just trying to do what the Brother wanted: bring peace,'' said Gary dos Santos, reciting one of his mantras as the mayor of Strawberry Fields.

The ''Brother'' is John Lennon, fatally shot by Mark David Chapman in front of the Dakota 29 years ago Tuesday. Since then, lovers of Lennon have flocked to Strawberry Fields, across the street in Central Park. They gaze upon the ''Imagine'' mosaic, and remember Lennon.

About 16 years ago, Mr. dos Santos started hanging around with the rest of a handful of homeless people and others who enjoy smoking and drinking and gawking at the tourists at the mosaic just inside the park's West 72nd Street entrance. He gradually installed himself as the curator, gathering castoff flowers from nearby florists and grocers and arranging them on the mosaic, where he could give his Lennon spiel to tourists and ask for tips -- or, as he calls them, ''contributions for peace.''

''Then, eight years ago, the Brother visited me in a dream and said, 'Gary, keep doing what you're doing, every day,' '' he said. ''And I've been here every day ever since. There you go: the mayor of Strawberry Fields.''

Mr. dos Santos, 45, has spent years drifting in and out of homelessness and is now living in a room in the Times Square Hotel on West 43rd Street. He and his black Lab, Mary Jane, walk to and from Strawberry Fields each day, where he can be seen ticking off a list of celebrities who have dropped by, and mentioning the documentary made about him a while back, ''The Mayor of Strawberry Fields.''

As darkness descended on Monday, he set out to gather flowers for the next day. At Broadway, near 73rd Street, he entered Amaryllis Florist, where Louis, behind the counter, threw up his hands.

Louis: ''I have nothing for you today.''

Gary: ''Come on, man -- tomorrow's the 29th anniversary.''

Louis: ''I got nothing, it's the holidays.''

Gary: ''The Brother deserves flowers.''

Louis: ''Tell me, what'd he ever do for you? He gave you something?''

Gary: ''He gave me peace for the world, brother. If you take care of me, you're taking care of John.''

Louis shook his head and wrapped a few carnations for Mr. dos Santos, who left and walked to Columbus Farm grocery, at Columbus Avenue and 71st Street, to check the sidewalk flower racks. Nothing but petals and stems in the trash can.

He checked the flower situation at C. P. Yang grocery on Columbus. Nothing.

''At least tomorrow, I don't have to bring flowers,'' he said. ''The whole world shows up with them.'' COREY KILGANNON

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